Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Interest groups spent $235,828 for functions designed to lobby legislators during the 2009 session, according to reports made public Thursday following a Freedom of Information Act request by The Iowa Independent.
Despite a poor economy, groups spent nearly $41,000 more in 2009 than they did in 2008. In fact, this year has seen the most spending on legislative receptions since 2005, according to Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) records.
“These reports show that the political economy in Iowa remains robust,” said Charlie Smithson, the IECDB’s executive director.
Reports were filed for 90 receptions held during the session. Reports disclose the amount spent on food, beverage and entertainment regardless of the number of people who attend. Because every legislator is invited to attend, the parties are not subject to the state’s gift law, which prohibits gifts to government officials of more than $3.
Below are the top 10 parties by amount spent during the 2009 legislative session.
1. Iowa Association of Realtors — $16,813 (held March 24)
2. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation — $15,807 (held Feb. 24)
3. Greater Des Moines Partnership — $10,405 (held Jan. 12)
4. Iowa Wholesale Beer Distributors Association — $9,913 (held Jan. 20)
5. Iowa Credit Union League — $9,105 (held Feb. 17)
6. Des Moines University — $8,629 (held Feb. 4)
7. Iowa Bankers Association — $8,449 (held Feb. 11)
8. Iowa Health Care Association — $7,958 (held March 31)
9. Central Iowa Power Cooperative — $7,949 (held March 26)
10. Iowa Business Council — $7,453 (held Jan. 26)
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